Ask a group of people to give a top ten list of Australian artists who produce the styles of art we love, and Ghostpatrol is almost guaranteed to be in each list. From his foundations as a street artist, to his remarkable gallery work and installations, Ghostpatrol is a humble, dynamic artist whose incessant creativity over rides the hubris of scene politics or posturing by just doing what it is that he does best – creating beautiful works and characters that viewers are able to instantly identify with.

We were really lucky to snag some of Ghostpatrols time in the lead-up to his upcoming exhibition at No Vacancy, Warp Points & Seed Vault Save Points, and to get some of his thoughts down in pixels …

Can you tell us a little about a typical day in the life of Ghostpatrol, and what you usually do in terms of a daily routine in the Mitten Fortress studio?

Each day seems quite different, but a good day for me is getting to the studio around 9am, after picking up enough food and liquid for the day. Then I’ll be drawing until the evening. Head down – zone out.

You started out with a lot of stencil art, and have moved more into a drawing based, illustrative format – how has this style developed over the years? And how have you maintained a progression within it?

Like everyone, I started drawing as a young child and I don’t think I’ve ever really stopped. My process involves drawing in sketchbooks everyday, and filling them up.

I try to always build upon what I learn form every drawing or painting – progression seems to happen naturally from this.

You’re characters are, at first glance, seemingly simplistic, but how do you believe you are able to utilise this seeming simplicity to allow you to depict, at times, complex and detailed scenarios and emotions?

I try not control this art of my art. Sometimes a feeling works well, sometimes it doesn’t. I find that if I try and control an idea – it never works, it’s better to let it happen naturally.

Your upcoming show, Warp Points and Seed Vault Save Points references some intriguing speeches on exploration, and the values of genetic seed banks – can you give up some more details on the ideas that you have underlying the show, and how these themes work within it?

I’ve become obsessed with a few amazing scientific based adventures.

These talks are good:

Cary Fowler

Brian Cox

In terms of your installation work, what do you believe are the most challenging aspects of putting together some of the large scale installation pieces that you create and what aspects of both your work do try to display within them?

It’s hard to explain in words sometimes. The ideas just come form spending a lot of time thinking while drawing. The actual items and built pieces seem to come about naturally. Sometimes it’s great fun to just collect a neat pile of material then have some fun building and installing in a gallery space – then pulling it all apart after a few days or weeks.

The aim is to create an experience that invites viewers into the artworks, instead of just looking like a shop.

You are not bound by your illustrative works, and often experiment across a wide range of mediums and ideas, from dolls to gocco prints, tattoos and watercolor paintings, to large scale murals – and you are even working on a video piece at the moment – but what other projects and mediums are in the “really want to do one day” dream pipeline, and why?

I have a small box full of index cards that each have a project idea. Some ideas are small, while some will have to wait for the perfect opportunity or place. I’d love to make some action figures, I’d like to go to Antarctica and play more music – but I’ll leave my other plans a secret.

You’ve worked hard enough to have been given the opportunity to exhibit in a wide range of places, as well as having garnered the interest of such luminous entities as the National Gallery – all a result of variation of an art form that has not always been generally accepted by such institutions – how do you believe you have helped to change this view by the work you have produced and championed over the years?

It’s hard for me to comment, I only know what I know. It’s a real honour to work and exhibit with some of Australia’s great institutions – it’s been very humbling and I’ve learnt a lot.

How did you find the experience of helping put together the Street|Studio book, and did the response to the tome meet the expectations you all had of it?

It’s great to think of that little book scattered all over the earth acting as a portal into the artists minds – it’s a great honour to be able to share the work of the Street|Studio artists with the rest of the world.

Your work has been the subject of a wide range of video documentaries, published articles and electronic documentation regarding the Australian street and urban art scenes – how do you believe these forms of media have helped progress the general publics view of the work that you, and similar artists, partake in?

I try not to think about it, I prefer to putting my energy into my artwork. I think that you can get bogged down in the details, the politics and the excuses.

I think we’re very lucky in Australia to even have the option to make art. It exciting and energising to see people taking advantage of these opportunities and making more art.

There’s a lot of interesting things to think about when it comes to street art and the internet. I’d like to think that at some point we’ll see some newer/younger street artists coming out of this big 10 year boom of street art.

From all counts, and from even the briefest of glances, you are prolific, driven and leaking creativity like a sieve – but what is it that keeps you going, and creating the worlds that you do, and will continue to do so in the future?

Thankyou, I feel very lucky to be surrounded by some very loving and supporting people that help me with all aspects of my life and work.

I try to work very hard to keep on top of normal human life too, so I can make more space to sit down and draw, and keep on learning …

Ghostpatrols solo exhibition Warp Points and Seed Vault Save Points opens next Thursday 16th September, 6pm @ No Vacancy.